A Covenant With Death

by Bill Wetterman

  “Be careful where you put your hand.” She flashed her I.D. card, and the young man turned pale and jumped back.

  “I apologize.”

  “Don’t. I’d like to speak to you privately.” She turned to a tiny, delicate blonde trying to tiptoe away, and said, “I’ll be interviewing you too, after Romeo and I are done talking.”

  Vargas hustled Connor and the young man into one of the private suites down a red hall with psychedelic lights flashing. Once in the room, Connor pointed to a chair. “Have a seat. I don’t bite.”

  “You could,” he said, “if you’re gentle.”

  “I’m here on realm business.” She pulled a robe off the massive white bed and tossed it at him. “Put this on. You’ll be more comfortable.”

  “You’ll be more comfortable. I’m perfectly fine.” He complied. The moment he did he appeared like a sheepish schoolboy caught kissing a girl in the hall.

  “What would you like to know?” he asked.

  “Tell me about yourself. Where you’re from, and how did you start working in the sex profession.”

  “My name’s Hal Perkins from the Tulsa Complex.” He grinned and folded his hands with a relaxing motion. “As a teen, I planned to be a molecular scientist. But I had a hard time with solid geometry. I was the guy who cracked-up my friends with jokes and comic routines. So I switched to the entertainment core studies and flew up the scale.”

  “What are your duties here?” Connor asked.

  Hal looked away. “I wish you were a client. I would feel more natural talking about this.”

  “Like I said, I’m here on realm business and I don’t bite.”

  “Twice a week I perform with the main vocal attractions at the Melody Auditorium as a backup singer. Here, with my equipment, the ladies flock to me as an escort.” He laughed. “My ego couldn’t be healthier. All in all, I’m having a ball working here. One day I hope to become a headliner and take a starring role. But I’ll never stop working with the ladies.”

  “Do you believe in God?”

  He cocked his head. “The State has no business knowing my personal beliefs.”

  “I’m curious.”

  He moistened his lips. “God created and moved on. Whatever He or She is has nothing to do with how I live my life. I’m composed of matter and an unseen force. I’ll live again somewhere at some other time. That’s what I believe. I won’t change my opinion.”

  “So having sex with anyone assigned gives you no cause for shame?”

  “Shame? Why? I have fun. They have fun. No one gets hurt. It’s a perfect world.”

  “What kind of Global testing did you have for this job?”

  “For the Entertainment Career Module, business management, finance, organizational development, and human resources and human behavioral psychology. The musical in-house performances are by audition.” He grinned. “For health purposes, everyone here is screened weekly for STD’s. But with today’s medical advances, there hasn’t been a case in this center in the past six years.”

  After nearly an hour with Hal Perkins, Connor released him back to his supervisor and brought in the tiny blonde, who had Aphrodite radiance beaming around her.

  “How old are you?” Connor asked.

  “Twenty-three,” the girl replied and slid on to the edge of the bed. At least she’d put a robe on to hide her nudity.

  “And your name.”

  “Lexi Lee.”

  “Global Realm name.”

  “Lexi Lee. It’s the only name I got.”

  Another “Hmm” escaped her mouth. Lexi’s use of the verb got said her test scores would be low. “How long have you been here at CA-19?”

  “Since the day I turned sixteen.”

  Connor’s head jolted back. Then she remembered the realm’s legal age of consent was sixteen. “What Educational Core did you take?”

  Lexi looked down at the floor. “I only passed Elementary Basics.”

  My God, that was the beginning level children age five took to establish a baseline. “And after that.”

  “Ma’am, I have an IQ of 74. I cleaned rooms.” She grinned. “I test each year. I hope the stuff I learn here will help me learn to cook.”

  “Did you choose to be a sex worker?”

  “No. The test center said the jobs as fruit pickers needed a stronger person. Plus, they said my body was suited for this work. So I took this and just kept my mouth shut. Why? Did someone complain?”

  Connor’s face burned. “No complaints. Do you like what you do?”

  “Yes. When people like me, I’m happy. Besides, cleaning the rooms is lonely.” She grinned. “Here I’m touched and appreciated. I need to be touched and appreciated.”

  “Lexi, do you believe in God?”

  The young lady’s eyes widened. “Yes. I talk to him every day.”

  “Who is God?”

  She looked up and to the left, then grinned. “He is the one who made everything. He is love.”

  “Does he have a name?”

  Lexi’s eyebrows furrowed. “God.”

  “Where will you go when you die?”

  “I’ll go to God and ask him, ‘What’s next?’” Lexi sat eyes wide and mouth open, gazing at Connor.

  Connor warmed to this innocent girl. “I hope you never change.”

  She took Lexi to the door. “Vargas, give me the files of every female sex worker here. Now!”

  Lexi turned to her and said, “Don’t take me away from here. I can’t clean rooms all my life.”

  “I don’t make those decisions. So don’t worry.”

  Vargas already had several files in his hand. “I anticipated your request. Global law states, ‘Every citizen must perform work of some type equal to their ability and attitude.’”

  “How many girls here are like Lexi?” she asked as Lexi hurried off to work.

  “Of the ninety-two at this facility, twenty-seven are mentally challenged.” Vargas sighed. “You have to understand. The waiting list to work here is back loaded two-years out. Some of those waiting have IQ’s of over 130.”

  “Bring someone working here with that type IQ.” She didn’t think Vargas could. What would an intelligent woman want in a place like this? The lines of men and women waiting for appointments grew by the minute, as late afternoon approached.

  “Fine.” He moved close to Connor and whisper so those in line couldn’t hear. “Lexi is fortunate to have this job, and she is the best of the best. She’s happy. The clients are happy, and this is the best match for her according to Global Standards.”

  Vargas left and returned with a tall beauty. From what Connor had seen, only the cream of human physical sexuality worked here. This lady glided in gracefully, reached out her hand, and said, “My name is Connie Ivaconni.”

  Her wrist sported three gold bands encircled with pink Realm emblems. Each saying this woman excelled as a specialist in three fields of expertise. Connor didn’t ask which.

  “Call me Connor.” She replied. “Why . . .”

  “Why am I working here? First, I thrive on male attention. Second, I’ll run the Western Hemisphere Entertainment centers by the time I’m forty. Third, Everything fun is here. Sports, you’ve got it. Classics, you’ve got it. Fine food . . .”

  “I get it.” Connor motioned for Connie to sit down and pulled up a desk chair to sit across from her. “Describe a typical day for me.”

  “I sleep in. One of the guys brings me breakfast around 10 a.m.” She pointed her finger at Connor. “Rapes under the Global Realm are rare. Why do you think? Except for one day a week off and a week’s vacation a year, our citizens work 75% of the time and sleep the other 25%. That’s why time off is vital for them. My job is seeing to it they get exactly what they want and stay productive citizens.”

  Lowering her brow, Connor said, “Stick to my question. I’m not looking for you to defend what you do.”

  “Six days a week, I entertain walk-in clients from eleven to five, with ten minutes off f
or lunch. At five, I hook up with an off-duty executive client, and we go out about the Center enjoying the festivities. We return about midnight, He leaves about 3 a.m. and I sleep until ten.”

  “And your seventh day?”

  The woman smiled a broad, winning smile. A laugh escaped her lips. “I take the transport to the Los Angeles Complex and spend time with my mother. She’s a nurse and we have our days off together.”

  Vargas stuck his head in the door. “Your company, particularly your brother is anxious to leave.”

  “I’ll be right there.” Connor stood and shook Ms. Ivaconni’s hand. “What do you think of the girls like Lexi?”

  “She has the best deal she can get for herself. She’s not bright, but she’s giving. The men love her, so what’s the harm?”

  What’s the harm?

  “Do you believe in God?” Connor asked, as Connie glided to the door.

  “Remember, the Global Realm doesn’t force religion on its citizens.”

  “Just a question.”

  “Maybe. Have him come over to meet me and we’ll have a little chat.” With that, she went out the door and disappeared into the ever-growing throng. Disgust and envy filled Connor. She’s too perfect.

  Chapter 15

  Pendleton’s sweat dripped freely down his face. The damn computer threw scenario after scenario at him. Edison mixed a multitude of situations together involving personal issues, family, religious convictions, and world complexities. The machine demanded the selection of only one course of action. Six hours now, he’d struggled.

  “Time.” A mechanical voice spoke and the screen faded to black.

  All participants started and ended at the same time. Pendleton rose to a standing position and almost collapsed. He’d rarely been challenged. Less than a handful of competitors ever scored high enough to force him to take the test. His original grade on Edison, a 99.4% logically accurate, exceeded all other test scores previously recorded by 2.6%. He waited for his result to pop up on the screen.

  Such self-doubt. He never second guessed his decisions until Milton passed away. Then there were the tremors in his hands. Bloody hell. Early Parkinson’s. Opponents could not know. His score flashed on the screen. He did a double-take 98.9%. The second highest score ever recorded. His chest puffed out. I’m not going down without a fight, he thought.

  He emerged through the door and gingerly strode across the room. “Haven’t lost my edge. No sir. I’ve still got it.”

  Duarte pointed at the 70” screen showing Edison’s final tally of the results. Chills ran down Pendleton’s spine and he stopped mid-stride.

  “My God,” he gasped. “This isn’t possible.”

  Hans Van Meer exited from his testing area. “Well, I didn’t score high enough to make the ballot. Wow, will you look at that. I guess my 92% really sucks.” He poked Pendleton in the arm. “Jolly good show, 98.9%, Ole Boy.”

  “A 92% is the fifth highest score ever recorded on this exam until today, Mr. Van Meer.” Duarte shook his hand. “Over eleven hundred citizens took this exam in the early testing stages. You should be proud.”

  Pendleton slumped into the nearest chair. “Ammad has a 99%. Chui has a 98.8%. By the rules, the variance puts us in a virtual tie.” How could Ammad have scored that well?

  “Ammad’s a devious bastard.” Van Meer poked Pendleton again. “Devious bastards are aces at ruling the Realm. Look at yourself. You’re as devious as they come.”

  Duarte interrupted with a wave of his hand. “The Realm has only six days to prepare to vote. I’ll have to notify the public and instruct them on how to use the voting application on their universal communications devices. No one has voted for the First Citizen before. They’ll be confused.”

  “Whatever.” Pendleton fidgeted. He’d gone from elated to glum. “When are Connor and George arriving?”

  “Within the hour,” Duarte replied. “Shall I show them in when they arrive?”

  “Yes, please do,” Pendleton said. “And draft notes to Chui and Ammad, offering them my congratulations.”

  Duarte stopped and turned. “Are you serious, First Citizen? Ammad almost forced us into war.”

  “My enemy or not, his achievement is extraordinary.”

  “One moment,” Van Meer said. “Rather than doing an elaborate tutorial with them. Show them real time. Develop a few basic pictures of the universal watch, and they can follow the steps with you on voting day.”

  Duarte reflected for a moment. “I know this isn’t proper in a Global Society, but I like the idea that everyone in the world will watch me.”

  He pivoted on his heel and strutted out of the room.

  Within the hour, the door to the testing facility opened. His daughter and oldest son rushed in. Before they could sit down, Pendleton addressed them. “You’ve heard the news by now. There will be a three-man runoff. I’m required to give a one hour address to justify why I should be retained in power.” He hugged Connor and shook George’s hand. “I’m conflicted by the entertainment center issue. Should I keep them open or close them if I continue as First Citizen? Ammad will certainly address the issue. What do I say?”

  George chuckled. “Well, they’re quite a dilemma. As a Christian, I’d never have created them.” He pointed his finger and shook it at his father. “But you did.”

  “I regret that decision.” Pendleton let out a deep whoosh of air. “The best advisors believed the populace needed an outlet and the Realm provided little except for the Centers.”

  “Probably true.” George patted his father’s back. “Eighty percent of what happens there is terrific entertainment. Twenty percent is debase, the lowest form of human debauchery. It’s depraved and demeaning. So I say let 80% remain and close the bloody rot down.”

  Connor collapsed onto a chair. “Don’t preach to Dad, Big Brother. He never wanted to be a moral policeman.”

  “So tell him your take, Sis. Don’t hold back.” George took a seat next to Van Meer, as far from his sister as he could get for fear of repercussions.

  “If you want to please God, you follow George’s lead.” She inhaled a deep breath. “If you want to win the election and make friends around the world, you keep the centers as they are.”

  Pendleton leaned forward and made eye contact with her. “Why say you so?”

  “Honestly, from a human viewpoint, you were right 25 years ago and you still are. You can’t be a moral policeman. From God’s viewpoint, He would never agree. You have to choose.”

  Looking more like her mother every day, he thought—perky, bright, and passionate. How he missed Lovey.

  “I feel disdain for the prostitution and alcohol use.” Connor looked at the floor. “But those who take part, immoral though they are by our standards, will become troublemakers without those outlets. The world population will become unmanageable. What goes on within the centers will spill out on the streets.”

  Pendleton rose to his feet. “Ammad positioned himself well. When we discovered his deceit, he attacked. He destroyed enough of our space-based technology to render a complete victory for either side impossible. In the process, he ruined enough of the countryside to put fear and doubt in people’s minds. I must point that out to a waiting world.”

  “Take five minutes doing that,” George said. “The rest of the time denounce war, point out the achievements of the past 25 years, and outline a plan to move forward.”

  He sipped some Global nectar from his glass. “And, continue preparations for Christian evacuation in case we lose.”

  Lose? Pendleton was tired. Not only physically, but mentally as well. His mind responded a step slower than it had in years past.

  “Where’s Harry?” he asked, suddenly desiring to have all his children around him.

  “With Obi,” Connor brooded. “They’re making final preparations on the biospheres for space flight. I’ll probably never get more than a couple of days with him at a time the way things are going.”

  “I’m sorry, H
oney. I hope the projects he’s working on will turn out to be unnecessary,” Pendleton said. “But I fear the worst. When I saw my score posted from Edison, I regained strength. Now, I see I was premature in celebrating.”

  “Our question should be. How did Ammad do so well?” Van Meer chimed in.

  “Yes. How indeed.”

  Chapter 16

  Like fireflies in the darkness, the shimmering lights around Peacock held her gaze. “Pretty.”

  She’d become aware of her surroundings. Time had ceased to be for her. She’d forgotten to breathe a day ago. Her mind shutdown and surrendered to total darkness. Death is peaceful, she thought. Now my angel brings me back to life long enough to comfort me.

  Then she remembered. Yes. She actually did die. Her breath left her and her spirit rose above her cell. People talked about moving toward a bright light and seeing family and friends. But for her, she watched herself lying dead on the floor of the cell, and then nothing. That is, until now.

  “It’s time to go.” The light grew, and she could make out her angel’s shape in the far corner of her cell.

  “Are you taking me to heaven? I’m ready.”

  A bubbling spring-like laughter filled her ears and in it the words “Not yet, but soon,” spoke to her mind.

  “Why did I seem dead until you roused me?” she asked, and knew the answer without a response. “I did die. Didn’t I?”

  He smiled. “God has a purpose for you, and you will not go to heaven until you fulfill it.”

  “Lead on.” She found herself on her feet moving through the solid door of her cell, a door bolted from the outside and far too heavy for her to move. She felt no pain, and when she looked down, a clean pair of jeans and a white shirt covered her. Tennis shoes adorned her feet. She stopped and ran her hands down her body. The skeletal wraith had vanished, and she was healthy and whole.

  Up the stairs she walked to the upper level of Cell Block 42. A guard slouched down by the exit door. Another strolled along the hallway. The angel led her past them without their noticing, and out she went into the fresh air. She inhaled a comfortable breath and turned to her guardian. “Where to, kind Sir?”